The Pembrokeshire Herald

Wales Team to face Australia

Wales Team to face Australia

CAPTAIN Alun Wyn Jones will lead Wales in their opening 2017 Under Armour Series encounter with Australia at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, November 11, KO 5.15pm.

Jones is one of seven returning British & Irish Lions to line-up in the starting XV for the clash against the Wallabies, alongside Ken Owens, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny.

Three players will make their home debut at Principality Stadium, Owen Williams and Steff Evans in the backline and flanker Josh Navidi.

Captain Jones will pack down alongside Jake Ball in the second-row, behind a front-row of Rob Evans, Owens and Tomas Francis.

Aaron Shingler and Navidi – who both featured in the two Test victories over Tonga and Samoa in the summer – start in the back-row alongside Faletau.

Evans, who scored two tries for Wales in his last outing against Samoa, is part of a back-three alongside Williams and full-back Halfpenny.

Three uncapped players have been named on the bench: Dragons prop Leon Brown and Ospreys duo Sam Cross and Owen Watkin. Kristian Dacey and Nicky Smith make up the front-row replacements alongside Brown with Cory Hill completing the forward contingent. Aled Davies and Hallam Amos join Watkin as the backline replacements.

“We are really looking forward to Saturday and getting the Under Armour Series underway,” said Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland.

“I’m delighted for Steff Evans, Owen Williams and Josh Navidi that they get their first start at home, the atmosphere will be fantastic and it’s a great opportunity for them.

“It’s going to be a tough first up game, we know that and we need to be up and running. We have a squad that’s packed with talent and is on form and we are excited to see what they can do.”

Rugby and Girlguiding join forces to provide new opportunities

WELSH Rugby is joining forces with Girlguiding Cymru to offer new opportunities to girls across Wales.

As the UK’s leading charity for girls and young women, Girlguiding conduct an annual Girls’ Attitudes Survey, collecting the views of girls and young women aged 7 to 21 across the UK on a wide range of issues.

The latest survey revealed that girls and young women are encountering gender stereotypes in all areas of their lives – from their peers to the media, causing them to change their behaviour because of the pressure they feel to be or act a certain way. 55% of girls ages 7-21 say gender stereotypes affect their ability to say what they think.

When asked what sports girls aged 11 to 21 want to do at school, 22% want to play rugby. Through the newly found partnership with Girlguiding Cymru, the WRU is looking forward to introducing rugby to girls who do not have the chance to participate through school and show them that girls can play rugby regardless of their gender.

Members of all sections of Girlguiding Cymru (starting with Rainbows) will now be able to work towards a Welsh Rugby badge, guide leaders have been put through a WRU coaching qualification in order to start introducing rugby games within their girlguiding units, and there will be opportunities to link up with girls-only summer clusters around Wales.

Wales Women international and rugby sevens Olympian Jasmine Joyce, a former guide herself, is an ambassador for the scheme. She said: “When I was in the guides, the activities tended to mainly involve arts and crafts and problem solving so I think this is a brilliant addition for girlguiding. You make some of your best friends in rugby, and it’s great that we’re working with the clusters to provide new opportunities for guides to get involved in our game.”

Anne Mary Simpson is a 16 year old Young Sports Leader for Gwent Girlguiding. She said: “I’m keen to join a rugby club myself after getting a taste for it on the training day. It’s fun and so energetic, I think it’s something the girls will really enjoy, especially at their age.”

Penny Christie From Second Narberth Browies added: “I think it’s brilliant. We can teach the girls how to work as a team. It’s good for their health and it’s so much fun, our girls will really love it, they are up for anything and this opportunity will be amazing.”

Gabriella Doyle, Sports Development Officer for Girlguiding Cymru said: “After receiving a Calls4Action grant from Sport Wales, we have been able to provide new opportunities for thousands of our members and a ‘Give it a go’ attitude with regards to getting more young women and children engaged in sport and physical literacy.

“Rugby is such a momentous occasion in Wales, the women’s team have done so well so it’s great that our members can be part of this too. We know that our members are very excited about this partnership with Welsh Rugby Union and it could help change the perceptions for many young girls across Wales.”

The WRU believes there is a place for everyone in rugby and is keen to work with Girlguiding to provide new opportunities and make connections with the girls-only clusters around Wales.

Katy Evans, WRU Game Changer for Women and Girls said: “The collaboration with Girlguiding will help both organisations in our aims to provide more opportunities for girls and young women, in terms of playing, but also coaching or volunteering. Hopefully we can help create some new role models for the guides and encourage more women and girls into our game.”

County Cricket fixtures released

THE fixtures for the 2018 season of the Pembroke County Cricket League have been released with the first games being played on Sunday, April 22.

Last season the Division 1 title picture was thrown into chaos as Carew declared on 18-1 meaning nearest challengers Cresselly would not be able to win the title.

Carew were subsequently relegated to Division 2 for the way in which they achieved the title and they have been given an intriguing local derby to start things off on the first day, against Division 3 champions Cresselly Seconds.

Back in Division 1, Cresselly’s first team are at home as they take on Division 2 champions Llangwm in what will be a tough test for the visitors.

Fellow promoted side Burton start with a home game but they will face a strong Haverfordwest team.

Kilgetty, who survived relegation because of Carew’s demotion, will start at home against Lawrenny.

St Ishmaels welcome Neyland and Whitland are at home as they take on Johnston.

Elsewhere in Division 2, Narberth, who finished third last season will take on newly promoted Hook.

Relegated Pembroke start with an away game as they travel to Haverfordwest Seconds.

Llechryd are at home to Whitland II and Saundersfoot play Stackpole.

Llanrhian will start life in Division 3 with an away game against Lamphey while Herbrandston, who just missed out on promotion last year, face Haverfordwest Thirds.

Lawrenny II start with a local derby against Carew Seconds while Division 4 Champions Llechryd Seconds are away to Pembroke Dock.

Fellow promoted side Narberth Seconds are away as they take on Neyland Seconds.

Last season’s Division 5 Champions Laugharne begin their Division 4 campaign with a game away to Llanrhian Seconds.

Crymych are at home against Burton Seconds while Hook Seconds face St Ishmaels Seconds.

Johnston Seconds who were relegated from the third division will start with a home game against Hundleton.

Llangwm Second will start at home to Saundersfoot Seconds.

In Division 5, Carew Thirds start with a home game against Kilgetty Seconds.

Haverfordwest’s fourth team are at home to Neyland’s third team and Stackpole Seconds are at home to Cresselly’s third team.

Finally there is a local derby as Pembroke Seconds host Pembroke Dock Seconds.

The second round of fixtures will also take place on a Sunday the following week before reverting to the traditional Saturday fixtures from Saturday, May 5.

A full list of fixtures for each Division can be found on the Pembroke County Cricket Club Website.

The Pembroke County Cricket Club AGM is set to take place on Wednesday, February 28, with a number of proposals set to be voted on.

Now campaigning at 57 kg, the Crymych southpaw began strongly and proceeded to hold the centre of the ring for most of the fight, throwing sharp and accurate combinations mixed with his usual solid defence.

“I felt he won comfortably and was surprised when he was awarded a split,” Cardigan ABC head coach Guy Croft said afterwards.

“For me, it was almost a technically perfect fight where Ioan took the lead and was in control almost from start to finish.

“It was his first fight of three minutes per round and he did show signs of tiredness at the end of the second, but had recovered to some extent by the third.”

Unfortunately, twin brother Garan lost his chance for a Three Nations challenge later this season when he was on the receiving end of a unanimous points decision against George Bance, a short, powerful hooker.

Although the Crymych 16-year-old boxed well in the first round, his English opponent dragged him into a scrappy, close range fight in the second.

“I was very disappointed,” commented Croft senior. “Garan was boxing so well before Christmas and now seems to have fallen back into his old scrappy ways – we have some work to do to get him back on track.”

Promising Cardigan ABC schoolboy Mikey O’Sullivan was edged out on a split decision against Dominic Janes (Splott ABC) at Splott’s Conservative Club the previous night.

In what proved an intense encounter, O’Sullivan landed some strong right hands in a contest which could have gone either way.